Grimaud

The name of the town Grimaud, at the western end of the Bay of St.-Tropez, may make you think of the Grimaldis, the ruling family of nearby Monaco. It’s not a coincidence. The village is named after Gibelin de Grimaldi, who was granted it in the 10th century. The most notable landmarks of this so-called perched village, with stunning views of the Mediterranean, are its 11th-century château and the Église St.-Michel (built in the same period). Damage during France’s religious wars and the Revolution has only added to the romantic aura of the castle, while the Église St.-Michel is a notable example of Provençal Romanesque architecture.